Ekimov is currently out due to a cervical fracture sustained while training with Armstrong in Austin, TX (maybe it's true that cyclists have soft bones...). Obviously, he would have been in the Tour with Lance if not for that. He has been a pro for something like 15 years and, at age 39, is currently in the twilight of his career. What will he do after Lance retires? Will he retire with Lance? How much time does have left on his Discovery contract? He is such a fantastic rider on his own right; never seeking any attention for all the work he has done over the years. He is perfectly content being the strong/silent type...